Starter switch control



Jan. 4, 1938. w. HlMlNGWAY, JR 2,104,159

STARTER SWITCH CONTROL Filed Jan. 24, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 4,1938. w. HEMINGWAY, JR 9 STARTER SWITCH CONTROL Filed Jan. 24, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Jam 4,1938. WHE NGWAY R 2,104,159

STARTER SWITCH CONTROL Filed Jan. 24, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 PatentedJan. 4, 1938 PATENT orrlce STARTER -H CQNTEOP Wilson Hemingway, 'Jr.,Chicago, 111., assignorlto. vElectrolock 'Manufacturing Company,Vicksburg, Miss a corporation of Mississippi Application January 24,1936, Serial No. 60,679

Claims.

I My invention relates to starter switches for automobiles and the likewherein a clutch controlsthe transmission of power from an internalcombustion engine which is started by an elec- 0 tric motor andmyinvention hasreference more particularly to a construction wherein thestarter switch is actuated by the clutch operating facilities in amanner to insure release or disengagement of the clutch when the switchis closed to cause operation of the starter motor. More particularly,my' invention contemplates the provision .of the starter switch withactuating means which is arranged with respect to the clutch operatingfacilities so that extreme movement of said facilities beyond thatrequired and ordinarily employed for declntching is necessary to closethe starter switch and the ordinary and usual declutching operationsaccordingly do not affect the starter switch.

The principal objects of my invention are to insure disengagement of theclutch when the starter motor is operated; to actuatethe starter motorswitch by means of the facilities which effect the release of theclutch; to arrange the starter switch so that it is unaffected 'by theordinary and usual declutching operations; and to provide simple,convenient and dependable clutch actuated starter switch operating meanswhich may readily be incorporated as a part of the switch assembly orfurnished as an attachment that is readily applicable to existingstarter switches,these and other objects being accomplished as explainedhereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is asectional view through the floor board of an automobile showing anexisting type of starter switch arranged for operation by the clutchpedal, the location of other parts of the automobile being indicated inconnection therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the starter switch attachment of Figs. 1and 2;

Fig. .4'is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a different form ofstarter switch and operating attachment;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom iew of the starter switch and attachment ofFig. .4 with certain parts'in section;

Fig. 6 is a perspective yiew of the starter switch attachment of --Figs,iend 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a starter switchconstructed-for operation by curre f m th ba ery t H e. .4. cover sh,...1 .28. letter??? i $1. 9 P91 3"??? Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionalview taken on the line 88 of Fig.7; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the starter switch of Figs. 7 and 8."

My invention. is adapted for use with pre- 5 vailing forms ofautomobiles which are operated by an internal combustion engine througha clutch which 'provi'de's'a" releasable connection between the'engineand the conventional transmission, and the clutch,'which is normally en-10 It] indicates the clutch lever which is pivoted at II in the usualmanner under the floor board I2 to the housing I3 for the transmission.which has a clutch connection with the crank shaft of 25 the engine I4.This clutch .lever extends upw wardly and forwardly under the toe boardI5 and terminates at the upper end in an integral angularly disposed armI6 which projects through an opening IT. in the toe board andlis 30provided at its outer end'with the pedal 18 which 7 is positioned to beconveniently engaged and ,d.epressed by the foot of the operator toswingflthe lever .IiI downwardly on its pivot II and thereby 'releasetheclutch connection between the crank 35 shaft of the engine I4 and thetransmission in the housing I3. 7

One present make of automobile has a starter switch] 9 mounted by meansof a bracket-Zac a frame member 2I,of the car as shown iniiigs. 1 O and2 so that the switch extension}? projects freely through the toeboardlfinear thelocation of the clutch p da '8. a op nefi .Q amp size b i p vd d fo his p os and th s e tension 22 has a cap- ?4 at the upper endwhich 45 maybe depressed to close the starter switch I9 throu h w ich rn is su pliedir m the battery to the starter motor.

This switch I9 comprises a bottom plate 15 which maybe. a part of thebracket gli and this bottom p1ato-2 s a a Q ..q ;e9 thereto in aninsulated manner with outs de term n 21 to wh ec r ca mission a e:tennecte s that t .s i cbr n w t Simply 1 25 to enclose the contacts 26and a switchbar 29 which is mounted in the shell 28 in an insulatedmanner and normally held awayfrom the contacts 26, is depressible by thecap 24 to engage the contacts 26 and thereby establish electricalconnection therebetween. The switch bar 29 is secured in an insulatedmanner to the end of a stem 30 which extends outwardly through theswitch extension 22, which is of tubular form, and this stem 38 issecured at its outer end to the cap 24 which closes and slides freely onthe outer end of the tube 22. A spring 3! in the tube 22 is compressedbetween the top wall of the shell 28 and the cap 24 so as to hold theswitch bar 29 away from the contacts 26 and in this position the cap 24is extended outwardly on the end of the tube 22 so that said cap iscapable of sufficient depressive movement to insure closing of theswitch bar 29 against the contacts 26.

The contacts 26 and stems thereof which constitute the terminals 21 areinsulated from the base plate 25 of the switch casing by a facing 32 ofinsulating material on the outer face of the base plate 25 and theflanged bushings 33 of insulating material which line the holes in theplate 25, through which the stems 21 extend and the switch bar 29 isinsulated from theshell 28 and stem 30 by the insulating disks 34 and35,

the former of which has a hub portion surrounding the reduced inner endof the stem 30 and lining the. hole of the bar 29 through which thisreduced inner end of'the stem 36 extends. The side walls of the shell 28which hold the switch bar 29 in proper alignment with the contacts 26and prevent rotation of said switch bar and its supporting stem 38 havean insulating liningifi which prevents contact of the switch bar withthe side walls of the shell. V

For operating the above starter switch by means of the clutch lever, Ihave provided an attachment or adaptenshown in perspective in Fig. 3,which is readily applicable to the switch without any alteration ordismantling of the switch. This adapter which is indicated as a whole at31, has a cap member 38 at one end which is of suitable shape and sizeto fit snugly over the cap 24 of the switch and at the other end isformed with a hook 39 which, when the adaper is mounted on the switch I9is located in the path of movement of the clutch lever 18 so that whenthe clutch pedal [8 is fully depressed the outer end of the lever l0engages the hook 39 and depresses the fitting 3'! sufficiently to. closethe starter switch I9. the fitting 3! is required to close the switch l9and the fitting 31 is constructed so that when mounted on the switch 19,the hook 39 will not be engaged by the clutch lever in until the latteris almostfully depressed and the starter switch accordingly will beoperated only in the final movement of fully depressing the clutchlever.

Clutch pedals are usually arranged so that release of the clutch occursupon partial depression of the pedal and in the normal declutchingoperations the clutch pedal is not ordinarily 416" pressed to the fullextent. Therefore since the to depress the, fitting 31 and close thestarter switch, the feel "ofthis added resistance serves as Only aslight depression of.

a precautionary influence to prevent depression of the clutch to theextent to accidentally or'unintentionally close the starter switch. Suchaccidental or unintentional closingof the starter switch is unlikely tooccur when the engine is not running and would in such case merely turnthe engine over as in the normal operation of starting whereas if theengine were running, the starter motor, which at that time isdisconnected from the engine, could not engage the running engine and inany event therefore, the only consequence of accidental or unintentionalclosing of the switch would be a possible wastage of battery current. V

The adapter 31 is'formed as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with a portion 48which is preferably curved transversely to conform to the tubular shapeof the switch extension 22 and of a suitable length to extend up throughthe starter switch opening 23 of the toe board l5, which said opening isof ample size to accommodate this part 40 of the adapter 31 aswell asthe switch.

extension 22 and this fitting is formed with an; offset 4| so that theleg portion 42 of the adapter: will extend along the end of the switchcasing 28 as shown in Fig. 2 at which place the adapter is formed orprovided with a yoke 43 whichstraddles the casing 28 and cooperatestherewith to hold the adapter in place and guide it in its.

switch operating movement, and itwill be observed that this yoke '43isarranged onthe adapter 31 so that when engaged with the switch casing 28there is sufficient clearance between the yoke and the switch mountingbracket 28 to permit the necessary movement of the adapter for closingthe switch. The adapter is preferably 7 upon the cap 38 of the adapteris applied over the switch cap 24 and the yoke 43 engaged with theproper end of the switch casing 28 and the toe board l5 returned to itsproper place. In the. automobiles for which the adapter of Figs. 1, 2and 3 is designed, the toe board is constructed with aseparate plate atthe location where the clutch and brake pedals and starter switchproject therethrough and in applying my adapter it is merely necessaryto release and lift this plate sufficiently to apply the adapter cap 38over' the cap 24 of the switch. J

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have shown another well known arrangement ofstarter switch with a modified form of adapter for permitting operationof the starter switch by the clutch pedal. The starter switch 45 in thiscase is of substantially the same internal construction as the switch ofFig. 2, but is mounted by means of the bracket 46 on the support 41- forthe steering column 48. In this switch, however, the switch bar thereof,which corresponds to the switch bar 29 of Fig. 2, is secured in aninsulated manner on the end'of the stem 49 which projects through thetop wall of the switch casing and this stem 49 has a head 50 on theouter end between which and the top wall of the, switch casinga coilspring 5| is compressed to hold the switch bar in the retracted positionin the same'inanner as the switch bar 29 of Fig. 2. The head 50 has athreaded opening 52 for the threaded end of the stem 53 which projectsthrough an opening 54 in the toe board I5 of the automobile and isprovided with a head 55 for engagement by the operators foot for closingthe starter switch 45.

To convert this switch arrangement for operation by the clutch pedal anadapter 56 is provided which has a ledge portion 51 with an angularlydisposed extension 58 at one side with a laterally extending aperturedlug 59 at the top, which is adapted to be interposed between the head 56of the starter switch 45 and the operating stem 53. A leg 68 dependsfrom the ledge portion 51 and has at its lower end a yoke 6| whichstraddles the casing of the switch 45 so that when the lug 59 is clampedbetween the switch stem 53 and head 50 and the yoke 6| is engaged withthe switch casing, the adapter 56 is depressible from the full lineposition of Fig. 5 to the dotted line position and in such movementdepresses the stems 49 and 53 against the tension of the spring 5| andcloses the switch. When so mounted the ledge portion 51 is in the pathof movement of the nose 62 of the clutch lever ll) of Figs. 4 and 5which engages the said ledge portion 51 as the clutch lever I is nearlydepressed to the full extent and the final depressive movement of theclutch lever I 6 of Figs. 4 and thus may be utilized in the same manneras in the structure of Figs. 1 and 2 to close the starter switch 45 foroperating the starter motor of the engine l4.

Referring now to Figs. '1, 8 and 9 which show a starter switch andoperating member constructed as a unit which may be used in place of thecombined starter switch and adapter of Figs. 1 and 2, the referencenumeral 63 indicates the starter switch as a whole which may be mountedby means of the bracket 64 on the frame member 2| of the automobile inthe same manner as the switch IQ of Figs. 1 and 2. This switch comprisesa housing consisting of the base plate 65 and cover shell 66, the formerof which is provided with an insulated contact 61, the stem 68 of whichprojects out through the base plate 65. A plate spring 69 withlamination 18 of a material of high electrical conductivity has a forkedend secured under the head 1| of a headed stem 12 which projects outthrough the base plate 65, the headed stem 12 and spring 6910 beinginsulated from the base plate 65 and shell 66. The other end of thelaminated spring 69--10 which extends over the contact 61, has a contactlug 13 thereon arranged in opposed relation to the contact 61 andnormally held by the spring 69-16 out of contact therewith and which maybe pressed against the contact 61 to provide an electrical connectionbetween the stem 62 and the contact 63 of the stem 68. The wall of theshell 66 at one end has an extension 15 with a slot 16 to receive thehooked end tongue 11 of a lever 18 to provide a pivotal connection, andthis lever extends longitudinally over the top of the switch casing andhas a stem 19 attached thereto and projecting through an aperture 80 inthe top wall of the casing 66 so as to engage a block 8| of insulatingmaterial at the free end of the laminated spring 6916. The laminatedspring acts through the insulating block 8| to normally force the stem19 outwardly and. the stem 19 is provided within the casing 66 with ahead 82 which byits engagement with the casing wall serves as a stop tolimit separation of the contact lug 13 from the contact 61.

The lever 18 is continued downwardly at one end of the switch asindicated at 83 and terminates in a hook 84 which is positioned to beengaged by the clutch lever sufficiently before the latter reaches itslimit of depression so that the final depressive movement of the clutchpushes the lever arm 83 downwardly and closes the switch 63, and saidlever is guided in its operation by a yoke 85 which loosely embraces theend of the switch casing 18. t

While I have shown and described my invention in preferred forms and asapplied to certain makes of cars, it is to be understood that it is notlimited thereto and that various changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the principles of my invention, the scope ofwhich is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automobile or the like having a toe board with a clutchreleasing lever thereunder and a starter switch with operating meansextending through the toe board, the combination of an adapter attachedto said switch operating means and having an obstruction under the toeboard in the path of movement of and operable by the clutch releasinglever to close the switch.

2. In an automobile or the like having a toe board with a clutchreleasing lever thereunder,

and a starter switch with operating means extending through the toeboard, the combination of an adapter extending through the toe board andattached to the switch operating means, said adapter having a part underthe toe board in the path of movement of and operable by the clutchreleasing lever to close the switch.

3. In an automobile or the like having a toe board with a clutchreleasing lever thereunder and a starter switch with operating meansincluding a stem which has a threaded connection with the switch andextends through the toe board, the combination of an adapter attached tothe switch by the threaded stem and having a part under the toe board inthe path of movement of and operable by the clutch releasing lever toclose the switch.

4. In an automobile or the like having a starter switch and a clutchreleasing lever, the combination of an operating member disposed in thepath of movement of and operable by the clutch releasing lever to closethe switch, said operating member having guide means which slidablyembrace the switch.

5. In an automobile or the like having a clutch releasing member, thecombination of a switch including a casing with a switch element thereinhaving an attached stem projecting outside the casing, a rocker armmounted on the casing and engaged with said stem and projecting into thepath of movement of and operable by the clutch releasing member to closethe switch, the rocker arm having guide means which slidably embrace theswitch casing.

WILSON HEMINGWAY, JR.

